DNV GL and Aker BP performed remote safety inspections on three offshore cranes on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. DNV GL performed the inspections of one box boom pedestal crane on the Valhall Flank West and two knuckle boom cranes on the Skarv field, both as part of annual surveys. Crane operators and specialized crane technicians on board the platforms used tablets to take closeup video and pictures, following a checklist of safety functions shared with DNV GL’s onshore inspectors. A similar inspection program is being performed on two knuckle boom cranes on the floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) unit located in the Skarv field. The ongoing remote assistance pilot task anchored in 350–450 m water and 210 km off the coast of Sandnessjøen, Norway, will remotely assess how to perform key safety tasks without jeopardizing trust, personnel safety, and the asset in the process.

DNV GL and Aker BP performed remote safety inspections on three offshore cranes on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The pilot project inspections were part of Aker BP’s strategy to minimize its operational carbon footprint. DNV GL performed the inspections of one box boom pedestal crane on the Valhall Flank West and two knuckle boom cranes on the Skarv field, both as part of annual surveys. Crane operators and specialized crane technicians on board the platforms used tablets to take closeup video and pictures, following a checklist of safety functions shared with DNV GL’s onshore inspectors. Inspection on the Valhall Flank West platform, which is typically unmanned, included the first-time inspection of a 1-year-old crane: auto-testing of the automatic overload protection system, structural connections, critical hydraulic and electrical components, the manual overload protections system, and brakes.

BP's Norway Assets have been recognised as a leading practitioner in the implementation of innovative intelligent energy solutions, what BP calls Field of the Future technology.  The installation in 1999 of a fibre cable, linking BP Norway's headquarters in Stavanger with their offshore operated assets, has been instrumental in putting BP Norway in the vanguard of implementing this new technology and associated work flows. This paper will take a look back over the substantial achievements and benefits that have accrued through the implementation of these technologies and review the experience gained. It will also look forward to the plans BP Norway have for taking their achievements to an even higher level of performance by fully embracing innovative intelligent energy solution concepts in two major projects that come on line in 2010/11.

This paper will present case studies of the various enabling and novel technologies installed to date, how these have been integrated within the operating environment, and demonstrate the continuing delivery of value.  Examples presented will include:

• implementation and progressive development of the Advanced Collaborative Environment (ACE) concept;

o        from an early pilot operations centre,

o        through the implementation of what is believed to be the World's first 24/7 Onshore Drilling Operations Centre.

o        to the current generation of operations and support ACE's.

• introduction and integration of Field of the Future technology into the assets and how this continues to impact production and plant efficiency;

o        the first full scale life of field seismic array,

o        an innovative set of optimisation tools

o        remote integrated surveillance tools for real time remote monitoring of wells and plant.

These tools have not only enhanced collaboration locally, but also enabled effective remote support form BP's Technology Centre and from specialist consultants, resulting in sustained improvement in asset performance.

Emerging inspection technologies, tools and platforms such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), robotic crawlers, and wearable/handheld devices are creating actionable data to help enable more informed decision making and improve process efficiency during survey and inspection related activities. This paper will discuss ABS' initiatives to further understand and help define the use of and the integration of these tools and technologies to support the evolution of the maritime industry's transition to digitalization. ABS, in conjunction with technology equipment manufacturers and service providers, has been conducting feasibility trials to evaluate the pragmatic application and implementation of these technologies to support Class surveys. These trials have focused on areas such as the detection of coating breakdowns using high-definition optics to aid in closeup visual inspections (CVI) and leveraging mobile platforms (wearable and handheld devices) in conjunction with a collaborative software platform to execute survey activities virtually in real-time (connected) or near real-time (disconnected), capturing data as required by Class Rules. In support of these trials, ABS is actively involved in a joint development project (JDP) with academia focusing on the realization of image recognition (artificial Intelligence [AI]) into the survey decision-making process. As part of this JDP, an AI software was developed incorporating thousands of damaged structural coating images. These images were used for the training, testing and evaluation of the software's image recognition capabilities.

Shell has selected Bentley Systems, a provider of software and digital twin cloud services, to help streamline its capital projects and decrease time to first oil. The memorandum of understanding with Microsoft follows a conditional investment decision made in May by Equinor, Shell, and Total. Pending Norwegian government approval, the final investment decision for the project is expected in late 2020 with startup expected in 2024. One year after the Johan Sverdrup field came on stream, Equinor says digital technology has proven to be key to safety and value in all parts of the operation, increasing earnings by more than $200 million. The companies say they will expand their existing technology collaboration to create and deliver solutions to help customers, suppliers, and other businesses lower emissions.